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Is geolocation a threat to privacy?

January 9th, 2011

The lines between people’s online and offline activity have become less defined in recent years, with the emphasis on geolocation technology playing a large role in that. Is this something users should be worried about? Not necessarily. At its most basic, geolocation is the simple act of identifying where an object is located. This object is generally a network-connected device like a cell phone or computer. By determining the actual whereabouts of a user, organizations can provide (and advertise) more specific services.Geotargeting and geomarketing are closely related terms that refer to the process of delivering different content to users based on their location. Geomarketing refers to the broad practice of integrating location into marketing aspects, while geotargeting refers to delivering different content based on geographic location. The regional divisions can be very broad or very specific, differing based on country, state, city, zip code, or even individual users. In addition, geotargeting can be used to restrict content to be used in certain countries. In other instances, such as the iTunes Store application, the selection of available content may differ depending on your country. This is an instance where geotargeting is done by choice. Another option is to use geolocation software to automatically determine a customer’s location and deliver them the content that is most meaningful.For a great example of specifically-targeted content, consider the website Groupon. Based on the user’s location, the site delivers exclusive daily deals through “coupons” which the customer can purchase. Creating different content for a multitude of locations can require a larger number of employees, but as Groupon has shown, it can pay off in the long run.Another benefit of geomarketing for growing companies is determining the best locations for expansion and tracking consumer demand. Companies can see which areas have the most interested users and take this into account when considering new locations. When used ethically and appropriately, geolocation can produce big benefits in internet marketing. It can also make individuals more accountable on the internet, perhaps making cases such as those mentioned in “Breaking news in Internet privacy” a thing of the past.

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